Picture screen



Aug. 4, 1931. J. c. KRO ESEN PICTURE scnmm Filed April 7. 1928 FIG; I.

Patented Aug. 4, 1931 JAY CLEIS ROI-SEN, 0F BELLEVILLE, NEW JERSEY rrc'rmm scam Application fled April 7,

This invention relates to motion picture screens, and more particularly to a screen having means incorporated therewith for the emission of. sound waves.

The invention provides for the propagation of sound waves from a motion picture screen and for the control'ofthese waves whereby they may be emitted'from the various )ortions of the screen in accordance with the location of the images thereon, or may be emitted from the whole screen as a' unit. This feature is particularly useful for talking motion pictures in order that the origin of the voice will simulate the location of the actor or the point of the'screen at which the action is taking place.

The invention further provides a screen having a magnetic material incorporated therein which may serve directly as an armature of the electro-magnetic reproducing unit whereby the entire semen may be vibrated and operated as a source of sound waves. By dividing the screen or screen supporting mechanism into a plurality of sections which may be operate independently, the waves can be reproduced fromthe' necessary position to give a pleasing and. natural effect.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction; and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed. I

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, the mode'of its 0 ration and the manner of its organiza- 'tion ma be better understood by referring to the ollowin description taken in connection with t e accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in w ich Fig. 1 is an elevation of a screen partly broken away showing the. reproducers lo- 'cated in the rear thereof togetherwith the switching mechanism for controlling the same;

Fi of Fig. 1 showing the screen and sound re'- producing unit;

. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-'-2 1m. Serial Io. aeaoaa. l

' Fig. 3 is a section view of a screen havin magnetic material incorporated therein and forming the armature of a re roducing unit.

F 4 is a sectional view 0 the screen for receiving a projected image and having a- 5 stylus 0 an electromagnetic unit connected thereto;

Fig. 5 isa' sectional view of a compound screen having a plurality of magnetic units associated therewith.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of. the drawings.

In the following'description and in the claims arts will be identified by specific names or convenience, but they are intendas ed to be .as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit.

Referring to the drawings more in detail and particularly to Fig. 1, a, screen 10 is disclosed which may be mounted in any 10 suitable manner and is so formed as to be capable of receiving the image from the projection machine and at the same time passing sound waves therethrough from the 1 reproducing units. Screen 10 may be divided into a pluralit of sections, each of which is associated with a separate sound reproducing unit. The number of sections is shown in the drawin as 9, although any suitable number. of visions may be emso loyed for' producing the desired effect.

he screen ma even be vibrated as a single 'unit if desired: I Reproducing unit 11 (Figs. 1 and 2) comrisesa vibratory diaphragm 12 supported as y any suitable means as by framework 13 and an electro-magnetic roducing unit 14 having a vibrating rod 1 secured there- ,to. Unit','14 maybe mounted in any suitable manner as by brackets 16. su ported from' framework-'17, said framework being carried by a suitable backing plate 18 associated with framework 13. Theparticular form of reproducing unit, however, forms no part of the present invention, since 05- any desired source of sound waves maybe ein loyed. I

reen 10 may comprise the usual cloth screen which may be coated with suitable material for properly receiving projected w light. A plurality of leads 19 from the various units 11 may be brought out to a suitable switching means such as a switchboard '20 provided with a plurality of jacks 21. The interconnection of the units may thus be controlled by suitable plugs 22 by means of which they may be, selectively connected to a plurality of voice frequency lines, 2?.

The switching means may be automatically operated or may be formed as a part of the screen and supporting mechanism.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 3 comprises a screen formed of a metallic wire section 23 formed of iron wire or other magnetic material and coated with a suitable material 2%- such as cloth to produce the required surface for receiving projected pic-.

tures. Any desired coating may be applied to the screen; to impart the necessary optical properties thereto. Electro-magnetic unit 25 having pole pieces 26 may be located in operative relation with respect to magnetic material 23, and the same caused to operate as an armature in a manner well known in the art. The screen surface may thus be vibrated directly and caused to project sound waves to the surrounding medium. Obviously a plurality of units 25 may be employed at different portions of the screen to permit variation in the source of sound waves in the manner illustrated in Fig. l.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 4, a screen 35 is supported on a suitable framework 36 and is mechanically connected to a stylus 37 of an electro-magnetic reproducing unit 38. Stylus 37 may be connected to screen 35 in any desired manner and serves to impart vibrations to the screen surface for the production and propagation of sound waves. The screen may be coated with any desired substance to impart the necessary properties thereto whereby motion pictures may be received upon its surface simultaneously with the emission of sound waves. Unit 38 is preferably so associated with screen 35 that the latter is maintained in. a substantially vertical plane, the amplitude of the sound vibrations ordinarily being imperceptible to the audience.

In Fig; 5 a modification is shown comprising a screen formed of two sections.- Outer section 30 is formed with a comparatively open mesh permit sound waves to readily pass the hrough. The backing screen 31 is formed of a usual material for receiving a projected image and is mechanically connected to the stylus 32 of an electro-magnetic unit 33; In order to impart thenecessary tension to screen 31, it may be stretched laterally, as shown in Fig. 5, into a. slight conical formation. Vibrations of the electro-magnetic .unit are imparted to the screen and cause the same to operate "as a loud speaker-diaphragm. Coarse screen r. erzeeo 30, however. is maintained in a single plane, and prevents distortion of the prof image which would otherwise occur. rovided the space between screen 30 or 31 is maintained comparatively small, the image which is received on screen 31 will a pear to be formed on screen 30 and will be free from vibrations and from distortion due to the slight conical formation of si'reen all.

Screen 31 is preferably formed with a diilusing surface but not a reflecting surface. The (lillllslilg surface possesses the properties of causing the image to appear on the outer screen whereas the reflecting surface would cause a double image to appear on the screen in places where screens 30 and are not in exact parallelism.

in operating screens formed as above described, the lower group of reproducing units may be employed for the production of music, whereas the upper groups may be variously used for speech in accordance with the instantaneous position of the actors, orchestra, etc. Any desired type of switching means may be employed for conrolling the source of speech, one type of which has been shown for purposes of illustration. it is understood, however, that this may be automatically accomplished in any desired manner such as from the projection machine itself or from the rear of the stage.

By employing a screen having magnetic material embedded therein, a plane surface is retainedfor the reception of pictures and mechanical interconnecting elements are avoided. The arrangement shown in Fig. 2 is especially adapted to be installed in connection with the usualtype of screen and may be used without replacing the screen itself. It is essential, however, that the screen be of sufficiently open mesh to permit the sound waves to pass therethrough when necessary substantially unimpeded.

While certain novel features of the invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a picture screen, an electric-magnetic reproducing unit associated therewith, magnetic means incorporated in said screen and forming'an arma-' ture for said reproducing unit whereby said screen ma be vibrated and caused to propagate soun waves and may besimultaneously used for the displayof pictures.

2. A picture screen comprising-a mesh of magnetic material, a cloth backing incorpverated therewith, said magnetic material ing adapted to form the armature of an electro-magnetic reproducing unit and to the reception of an image and selected porimpart sound vibrations to saidscreen.

3. A motion picture screen comprising a cloth screen, a' light receiving substance coated thereon, and a magnetic material incorporated therein. 5

4. In a motion picture screen, means associated with said screen for receiving a projected image and a plurality of variously located vibrating means for imparting sound frequency vibrations to said screen whereby the entire screen assembly is employed for tions thereof are employed for the propagation of sound waves to cause said sound waves to appear to emanate from appropriate portions of the picture.

5. In a motion picture screen, means associated with-said screenfor receiving a projected ima e and a pluralit .of variously located vibrating means fbr imparting sound frequency vibrations to said screen whereby the entire screen is em loyed for the reception of an image and selbcted portions thereof are employed for the propaga tion of sound waves, to cause saidsound waves to appearto emanate from appropriate portions of the picture, and switching means for 'selectively energizingsaid vibrat- :ng means.

' 6. Acompound motion picture screen com- 7 PI'lSlllg a su porting mesh of magnetic material, a clot covering thereover, said cover-- in having a coating of a light receiving su stance, sald magnetic material serving as an armature and electro-ma'gnetic means cooperating with said armature for vibrating said screen in accordance .-W1th sound waves whereby'said screen may be simultaneously employed for the reception of an image and the propagation of-sound waves.

7 A motion picture screen having a light receiving element and a magnetic element incorporated therein, means 'for mechanically .-:ub-dividin the surface of said screen to )rovide a p uralityof units which are capa- 1e of independent movement, said mag v netic element serving as anarmature and electro-magnetic means cooperating with said armature. for independently imparting vibrations to each of said units whereby sound. waves are propagated therefrom.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

., JAY: CLEIS KROESE'N. 

